Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Sochaczew,
Poland, September 15, 1939: The Poznan Army had been falling back without
engaging the Germans since the invasion began because of the lines collapsing
on both sides of them. On September 9,
General Kutrzeba crossing the Bzura River and launched an offensive; breaking
through the flanks of the German 30th Division that was by-passing
their position to the north. As the
offensive gained momentum, more and more German resources were committed to
counter the offensive and push the Poles back across the Bzura. The Polish 25th Infantry Division
failed in an attempt to break out of the encirclement at Sochaczew, the German
1st Panzer Division took advantage of the bridge being intact and
went after the Polish position.

GAME LENGTH:
8 turns

VICTORY CONDITIONS:
At the end of the game the Germans must have one platoon on the south
side of the Bzura River.

THE
BATTLEFIELD:

This view is looking
North. The Bzura cannot be forded and
the embankments are steep. The bridge
can support tanks and is 2 lanes wide.
The center pier of the bridge is in the center of the table. There is a low footbridge to the left (24” in
from the left table edge) that may be crossed by infantry only. The fields are cosmetic only and do not have any effect on movement or line of
sight.

The Polish player
deploys anywhere on the southern river bank (lower edge). The German player may deploy up to 12” in
from the Northern (upper) table edge.
The German player has initiative on the first turn. German artillery may deploy off-board.

SPECIAL RULES: Ammo checks on Turn 5.

The footbridge is of weak
construction; thrown together by troops from a prior offensive. Roll a Firepower test when a stand on the
foot bridge is hit. If it is successful
the bridge is damaged. (Mark which section).
Any stand may make a skill test to repair the bridge during a turn in
which they do not move or shoot. If the
same section takes 3 points of damage remove that section. The bridge is out of commission for the
remainder of the battle.

Any stand that is Pinned on the
foot bridge is placed in the water adjacent to the bridge. Once they rally, they must make a skill test
to get back on the bridge. A ‘1’ during
any skill test results in the stand drowning or getting washed downstream and
they are removed from play. A stand may
remain in the water alongside the bridge (using it for cover and moving
hand-over-hand along the braces). It can
move 2” per turn (roll a d6) and is considered to be in bullet-proof
cover. They may not fire while in the
water.

The high bridge is 2 lanes
wide.Therefore, a vehicle must be
knocked out passing a wreck in order to completely block the bridge.The Polish player may call Opportunity Fire
to hit a vehicle as it is passing another on the bridge (in an attempt to block
it), but the Rate of Fire is reduced as if the shooter had moved; representing
the limited time the firer has to hit the vehicle at that specific spot.He may resolve the rest of his fire normally,
but if the vehicle is bailed out or knocked out it takes place normally at the
end of its move.

Because of the
difficulty in targeting the deck of the bridge and limited surface, Smoke
Bombardments may not be placed on the bridge itself. However, direct fire smoke can be fired at
targets on the bridge.

POLISH ORDER OF BATTLE

Fearless Trained

Elements 25th Infantry Division

Battalion Piechoty

Battalion HQ 50 pts

2 Command Rifle Teams

1 81mm Mortar

Medic [Independent
Unit]

A Company 290 pts

2 Command Rifle Teams

1 Anti-Tank Rifle

3 HMG

12 Rifle Teams

B Company 205 pts

2 Command Rifle Teams

1 Anti-Tank Rifle

12 Rifle Teams

Piechoty ATG
Platoon 90 pts

1 Command Rifle Team

3 37mm wz.36 Anti-Tank
Guns

Mounted Kawalerii
Company 180 pts

1 Command Cavalry
Rifle Team

1 Cavalry Anti-Tank
Rifle Team

5 Cavalry Rifle Teams

FearlessVeterans

Total
Points:815

The Poles are
Underdogs in this scenario. If the
players wish for an even battle, the Polish force should be brought up to 1,200
points against 1,500 points for the Germans.

GERMAN ORDER OF BATTLE

Confident Veteran

Elements 24th Panzer
Battalion

Leiche
Panzerkompanie

Company HQ 80 pts

1 Panzerbefehlswagen
(Command Pz I)

1 Panzer II (early)

1 SdKfz 9 Recovery
Vehicle

1st Light
Panzer Platoon 215 pts

2 Panzer I

3 Panzer II (early)

2nd Light
Panzer Platoon 130 pts

1 Panzer I

2 Panzer II (early)

Medium Panzer
Platoon 450 pts

3 Panzer IV D

Light Armored Car
Platoon 100 pts

3 SdKfz 221 Armored
Cars

Light Pioneer
Platoon 155 pts

1 Command Pioneer
Rifle team

6 Pioneer Rifle teams

3 Kubelwagens

2 Heavy Trucks (2
stands each)

Light Artillery
Battery 360 pts

1 Command SMG team

1 Staff team

1 Forward Observer /
Motorcycle

4 105mm leFH18
Howitzers

Medic

Supply Truck

Total
Points: 1,490

THE
BATTLE REPORT

Polish Deployment

A Company deployed
into the woods to the left of the bridge with 2 HMG’s and the HQ Mortar
overlooking the footbridge while the remaining HMG faced the near side of the
bridge. HQ deployed in with A Company. B Company deployed along the road and to the
right in anticipation of the Germans coming across the bridge.

Two ATG’s were
positioned at the end of the bridge with the third along the left riverbank to
triangulate their fire on the Germans as they crossed the bridge. The unmounted cavalry
company deployed in the field behind (as a reserve) and chose to dig in once
the battle was underway.

On the opposite shore
the Germans lined up in the order that they would be taking the bridge. The Armored Cars & 2nd Light
Panzer platoon in the road to lead the way (with the armored recovery vehicle
close behind to ensure no wrecks block the bridge). The Engineers started dismounted across the
road and would feint toward the footbridge before moving on the main bridge
behind the armored columns.

The Panzer IV’s &
Artillery Forward Observer would take up positions on their side of the bridge
to pour some fire on the defensive positions while the rest advanced. Finally, 1st Light Panzer Platoon
would move into the woods on the left, offer fire support, then follow 1st
platoon out onto the bridge.

Turn 1

The Poles held their
positions and began firing on the approaching Germans. The Germans closed then distance from their
deployment zone to the river’s edge. In
the initial barrage from the Anti-tank guns, a Panzer IV & Panzer II were
taken out while the second Panzer II in 1st Platoon & an armored
car were pinned. 1st Platoon
passed their platoon morale check, but it could have been significant had the
first panzer platoon broken off.

“Did you see that? 3
shots, 2 kills! The heck with those guys
on the bridge, WE did that!” ATG on the
river bank takes down a Panzer II and Panzer IV while pinning the other Panzer
II from 1st Platoon.

Turn 2

The German Pioneers
reached the riverbank and began exchanging fire with the Poles on the other
side. The first air strike came in and
the Stukas took out one of the ATG’s at the end of the bridge along with 2
stands from B Company and pinning the rest.
Never the less, the German tanks held back on the river’s edge waiting
for some of the fire to soften up the Polish positions.

The anti-tank gun in
the woods that had a flank view of the bridge took out a second Panzer IV and
the remaining tank failed a platoon morale check. With the heaviest tanks quickly disposed of,
morale was high on the Polish side.

The ace ATG came under
fire from the Panzer II’s and was taken out along with one of the anti-tank
rifles. Never the less, the remaining
ATG at the end of the bridge held fast.

Turn 3

With the FO in position, the Germans were
ready to pick up the intensity on the Polish positions. Another air strike came in again, taking out
2 more stands at the end of the bridge and pinning most of the rest. The Panzer II’s collected along the river
bank turned their attention to the last remaining ATG; taking it out along with
the command stand. The way was clear.

Armored
Cars lead the advance across the bridge while Panzer II’s on the far shore keep
the pressure on the Polish defenders.

Before the way had
been cleared, the armored cars and 1st Platoon jumped off and
started their trek across the long span.

Armored Cars lead the
remaining 2 Panzers from 1st platoon across in the face of the
Polish defenders. They won’t be there by
the time they arrive.

Although the German
105’s posed a significant threat to the Poles on the opposite shore, the
opening salvo simply suppressed the HMG’s and Mortar. In the meantime, the German Engineers pulled
away from the river’s edge and headed for the roadway to be the next across.

Turn 4

With the way open and
the Germans showing no intention of coming across on the foot bridge, Company A
began shifting toward the main bridge and the oncoming armor.

Nothing like wheels on
the road! Moving 18” at a time, the German armored cars whiz past the
bewildered defenders. Now the Poles will
have to contend with them in the rear.

The Armored Cars
by-passed the Polish defensive positions and pulled up by the Chair Factory
while the slower tanks assaulted the Polish infantry along the fence line by
the bridge.

1st Platoon
goes to work clearing opposition away from the Polish side of the bridge.

The two panzers
eliminated one stand and forced the rest of the Poles to fall back toward the
trees where the rest of A Company was gathering to launch a counter-attack.

The German engineers
started across the bridge, but found not enough of the Poles had been pinned by
the artillery. The HMG opened up along
with several rifle stands and cut down 2 of the Engineers on the bridge.

Turn 5

Polish B Company
failed their ammunition check, but there weren’t many of them left and the
panzers were within assault range anyway.

With a tentative
foothold on the opposite side, the rest of the German force started across the
bridge.

The Stukas were unable
to range in on the Poles in the trees, but the artillery was effective in
pinning down the most dangerous weapons (the mortar and HMG’s). Therefore there were no casualties on the
bridge this turn. Never the less, the
small arms fire continued to erupt as the Poles pelted the German armor with
bullets in an attempt to get in a lucky shot.

The dug in dismounted
cavalry look on as Company A (on the left) assaults the panzers while remnants
of Company B (right) assault the armored cars.

With the significant
anti-tank weapons gone, the Poles understood they’d have to assault the German
armor if they were to win back the bridgehead.
They converged on them from both sides of the road.

Although there were no
casualties, the Panzers of 1st Platoon won the assault and forced
the Poles to fall back into the treeline again; further widening the
bridgehead. The armored cars killed 2
stands, but the infantry of B Company were able to destroy one armored car and
suppressed the second. The armored cars
failed their platoon morale test and fled the scene. It was too close for comfort for lightly
armored recon vehicles.

Turn 6

The Panzers of 2nd
platoon pour across the bridge & head for the dug in cavalry unit while an
armored car burns to the right. On the
left, the 2 tanks of 1st platoon continue to push A Company back
into the treeline.

The Polish HMG’s had
the opportunity to open up on the bridge once again; taking down 2 more
engineer stands and causing the remainder of the platoon to bug out. This was half the force! The Germans found
themselves having to pass a Force Morale Test with victory in their clutches! It was time to be more careful before the
tenacious Poles pull a victory out of the clutches of defeat.

Panzers assault the
Polish positions again.

Both Panzer platoons
assaulted the Polish positions. They
took out 6 stands including the Commander-in-Chief.1st Platoon reached the edge of
the treeline and held fast while 2nd platoon was repelled by the
dismounted cavalry (despite inflicting 3 of the casualties on the cavalrymen).

Turn 7

The
Germans had a wide enough swath cleared for their bridgehead and chose to hold
their positions; let the Polish Defenders come to them. Inevitably, this is what happened. Any Polish troops within range assaulted the
German tanks in a final, fruitless attempt.

The cavalry unit took
another casualty and broke from the battlefield. A Company & B Company each lost 2
stands. Time was running out and the
Poles had nothing left to push the Germans back to the bridge. The game was called at the end of Turn 7.

How it ended: German Panzers loitering around on the Polish
side of the river. “Send word back to
Herr General, the bridge is secure!”

AFTERMATH

Historically, the
Polish were able to hold the Germans off long enough so that the Poles could
ford the Bzura River further north and escape to Warsaw. However, they had to abandon all of their
heavy weapons in order to make the river crossing.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Piotrkow,
Poland, Southeast of Lodz, September 6, 1939: Following the route of the Polish Army at
Borowa Gora, the Germans pursued the withdrawing Polish army only to run into
the 146th Infantry Regiment forming up in the town of Piotrkow (pronounced
“Pee-otro-kov”) supported by artillery and the 1st Tank
Battalion. Not content to sit idle in
the town and risk being surrounded, the armor went on the offensive to halt the
German forces and buy more time for the withdrawing forces to regroup.

GAME LENGTH:
8 turns

VICTORY CONDITIONS:
Pitched Battle: Each side scores Victory Points equal to the value of
the unit he eliminates. In addition,
each side gets 200 points per table quarter if they are the sole occupants of
the table quarter.

THE
BATTLEFIELD:

Table view is
looking north into the town (East is to the right). There are hedgerows along part of the
north/south road and on the right border of the wheatfield. The square to the left of the road is a
cemetery with low stone wall around it.

Opponents roll off
to determine deployment: If the Polish
player wins, the Polish player may deploy in the town (North side of the table)
up to 24” in. If the German player wins
the die roll, the Polish player only deploys 12” in from the north table edge.

The Germans get
initiative on the first turn and enter the bottom (South) table edge.

As both sides have
off-board artillery, they may be eliminated by sending a unit off the opposing
table edge to deal with them. Treat the
opposing artillery as being positioned 8” beyond the table edge. When the unit that leaves the table edge
would reach the artillery, fight an assault or conduct fire as normal. The victorious unit may re-enter the table
edge on the turn that they would normally come back and must re-enter within
12” of the location where they left the table.

POLISH ORDER OF BATTLE

Fearless Trained

Elements 146th Infantry
Regiment

Battalion Piechoty

Battalion HQ 50 pts

2 Command Rifle Teams

1 81mm Mortar

A Company 290 pts

2 Command Rifle Teams

1 Anti-Tank Rifle Team

3 HMG

12 Rifle Teams

B Company 205 pts

2 Command Rifle Teams

1 Anti-Tank Rifle Team

3 HMG

12 Rifle Teams

Light Tank Platoon 145 pts

3 7TPdw Tanks

Light Howitzer
Battery 225 pts

4 100mm wz 14/19
Howitzers

[Off-Board]

1 Command Stand acting
as FO for the artillery may be deployed independently. He is worth 15 points if eliminated.

GERMAN ORDER OF BATTLE

Confident Veteran

Elements 44th Panzer
Battalion

Leichte
Panzerkompanie

Company HQ 80 pts

1 Panzerbefehlswagen
(Pz I Command)

1 Panzer II C (early)

1 SdKfz 9 Recovery
Vehicle

1st
Panzer Platoon 215
pts

2 Panzer I B

3 Panzer II C (early)

2nd
Panzer Platoon 130
pts

1 Panzer I B

2 Panzer II C (early)

Medium Panzer
Platoon 450 pts

3 Panzer IV D

Heavy Artillery
Battery 460 pts

4 150mm sFH18
Howitzers

[Off-Board]

1 FO on Motorcycle may
be attached to one of the above platoons.
Worth 20 pts.

The Poles won the opening die roll and were able to deploy 24" in, which essentially gave them the entire town in which to deploy. The Poles broke the
town up into 2 parallel sectors:Company
A deploying 2 stands to a house in the front section of the town all the way to
the house between the cemetery and the woods.All 3 HMG’s were spread out and placed in the houses firing on the open
ground that the Germans would cover.Company B spread out in the houses along the back row.The Battalion HQ deployed in the 2 buildings
next to the woods with the mortar setting up behind the fence in the yard.

The Polish tanks
positioned themselves on each side of the long, brown building with the third further forward using a building and fence for cover (as seen in the photo above). The Polish plan was a
static defense and to keep the tanks away from the Panzer IV’s. Evading the Panzer IV's, bu Turn 5 the tanks were tasked to get out into the open ground and deny the Germans sole possession of the 2 table quarters on that side of the table.

Turn 1

Score (400 - 400) Each side has sole possession of their table half.

The bulk of the German
force entered along the table edge to the left of the road where they headed for the woods. From there, the
units would start working their way down the length of the town. The 2nd Light Panzer Platoon led
the way, followed by both Infantry platoons in trucks. The Panzer IV’s hung back for one turn to fuel up as they did not have adequate fuel
for the mission.

The 1st
Light Panzer platoon heads down the road and straight toward the village
with the Panzer Company HQ behind while 2nd Platoon assumes combat formation and begins crossing the Western field.

Recon Motorcycle Platoon leads the way East of town with the objective of neutralizing the opposing artillery. The Anti-Tank guns being towed behind will set up firing into the town to trap the Polish tanks between the guns and the Panzers. In the distance, the FO and HQ cycles park in the stand of trees.

With the Panzers coming from their right, the 2 7TP's redeployed along the road further to the right in order to engage the oncoming panzers before they got into the village.

All along the front the Polish small arms opened up on the Germans, taking down one of the motorcycles. The anti-tank rifle suppressed the foremost Panzer I before a pre-planned barrage of smoke fell on their position. However, the lone Polish tank that had remained stationary followed up and caused the crew to abandon the tank on the road as it caught fire.

Turn 2

Score (400 - 400) Each side still has sole possession of his table half.

With the motorcycles
speeding on by, the small arms fire coming from that end of the town cut down
another. On the opposite end (the German
left) the trucks carrying the 1st Infantry Platoon were coming under
small arms fire from the houses, so they chose to stop and unload the infantry
to move the rest of the way on foot along with the 2nd Panzer
Platoon. By now, the Panzer IV’s had
entered the table and the rest of the German force was advancing.

By now the Panzer IV's were advancing across the western field with 2nd platoon trailing behind. (Panzer IV's and Opel Blitz trucks from Plastic Soldier Company).

All along the line the
Polish HMGs were jamming and the Polish tanks were missing their mark.

With the smoke clearing the Polish Forward Observer failed to range in on the German Panzers, however, the Germans were able to target the housing compound successfully bringing down a full 150mm barrage on the ATR and Forward Observer.

Panzer Headquarters tanks following the truck-borne Heavy Machineguns and 1st Panzer Platoon into the town as the German 150's clear any exposed Polish units from behind the fence.

The German cycles were
able to leave the opposite table edge and began firing on the Polish guns. The HMG’s reached the cemetery and began
unloading and the ATG’s found their position on the right side of the town.

The panzers and Polish
tanks began exchanging fire, with the combined fire from the Panzer II’s
destroying the first Polish tank.

German 1st
Platoon heads into the forest as the Panzer IV’s bring their guns to bear on the
nearest house. In the distance the last
remaining 7TP on this flank is in the road exchanging shots with the Panzer II.

With the Panzer IV’s
being spotted on this flank, the remaining 7TP started to withdraw (as per
Orders) but Opportunity Fire from the oncoming Panzers blew it up right next to
the first burning tank. With 2/3 of the
Tank Platoon gone, the remaining Polish tank passed his platoon morale check,
but would fail the “sole remaining unit” test at the start of turn 5 and it
would leave the table.

With the road getting
congested, several of the Panzers move off to the right and cross the hedgerow
in anticipation of engaging the last remaining 7TP (upper right), which will
withdraw in the next turn. The HMGs are moving to their positions in the
cemetery while the lead Panzer I is about to assault the first house.

Off table, the
remaining cyclists dismounted and prepared to assault the Polish heavy
artillery. They fired on the guns,
killing one crew, but then lost 2 of their remaining 3 stands to defensive fire
when they assaulted. The remaining
Command Stand didn’t kill any crew men, but was able to get them to fall back
away from the artillery.

Leading the way, a Panzer
I crashes through the first house and assaults the HMG and A Company Command
inside.

Similar to the results
of the artillery assault, the Panzer I was unable to cause any casualties, but
the Poles fell back into the long barn & farm house behind. The Panzer I continued through the wreckage
of the house in pursuit.

On the Polish left,
the HMG was keeping the 3 ATTurn 5

Score: (Germans 545 - 80) The Germans get the credit for the Polish tank platoon while the Poles get half the points for the German motorcycles.G’s pinned and out of the action until the German
FO finally called a successful barrage in on the HMG; taking the 2nd-in-command
for A Company with them. All through the
town on the German left, Panzers were following the lead of the Panzer I and
assaulting the Polish defenders by breaking through the cottages. In most cases the casualties were minimal,
but the Polish defenders were being forced to fall back into the defenses of B
Company in the back row.

The town being laid to
waste by the panzers. The ruined shells
of several homes are in the background as the Poles fall back and the Panzers
stop to fire on the second line of Polish defenders.

A pause in momentum: 4 Panzers riddle the building with bullet and
shell but they are unable to suppress the 3 stands defending inside.

Despite falling back
into B Company, the Poles were determined to continue the fight and peppered
the panzers with small arms fire. They
just didn’t have the firepower to stop the panzers without the guns being back
online. Speaking of the guns,
the 3 gun crews and the lone German command stand exchanged fire to no avail,
then the Polish crews assaulted the German command group and eliminated
them.One gun down, they could go back
to manning their guns.

With most of the
Polish defenders pulling back, the Germans in the forest began their advance
out of the woods into the town, led by the Panzer II’s of 1st
Platoon.

The first building in
their path housed the Battalion 2nd-in-Command with the Commander-in-Chief
nearby. The HQ mortar team had been
successfully bombarding the German infantry as they moved into the woods
(accounting for 3 stands). However,
their luck ran out when they drew the attention of the Panzer IV’s who were
coming their way. The Polish Commander
attempted to call in the (now available) artillery, but was unsuccessful. Before they could hang up the radio, a Panzer
II came bursting through the wall.

With the mortar gone,
the Commander-in-Chief failed his platoon morale roll. In addition, the loss of the HQ Company
brought the Poles up to 50% losses in their force (which calls for a force
morale check). With the HQ gone, they
automatically failed the Force morale check, so the battle was over and the
remaining Poles withdrew.

This is how it
ended: A Panzer II crashing through the
wall and successfully assaulting the 2nd-in-Command.

AFTERMATH

In the real battle,
the Polish artillery were able to stem the flow of panzers streaming into the
town and the Polish armor moved against the German infantry who were advancing
behind the armor. It was a well-executed
combined arms maneuver conducted by the Poles, but they remained out-gunned by
the Germans and had to withdraw from the town overnight.

About Me

A friend and I are fulfilling a Bucket List Wish: Gaming World War II beginning to end. I am using this forum to capture the scenarios created/used and battle reports for posterity. In time I am certain I will run out of space and old ones will be replaced with more current ones.